Crocs—love them or hate them, there’s no denying they’re iconic! These quirky shoes are adored worldwide for their unique design, comfort, and versatility. Made from a special material exclusive to Crocs, they’re lightweight, durable, and surprisingly breathable.
One of the best features? They handle water like champs! Whether you’re splashing through puddles, tending to your garden, or enjoying summer adventures, Crocs are up for the challenge. But even these tough little shoes need some TLC to stay in tip-top shape.
Cleaning Crocs is easy, but it’s important to follow the right steps to avoid damaging their signature material. Let’s walk through how to keep your Crocs looking fresh and fabulous!
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What Are Crocs?
Crocs are featherlight, waterproof shoes made for comfort, function, and fashion (for some people). Their appearance is distinct, with a rubbery feel and numerous ventilation holes. They come in various eye-catching colors, with the option of attaching stylish badges or jibbitz and adding a fluffy lining.
How Can I Make My White Crocs White Again?
White, classic crocs get dirty quickly but are easy to clean. Not only do you need to remove the dirt and grime, but you also need to get to work restoring the white, bright appearance of the croc.
What Is Needed for Cleaning White Crocs?
- Dish soap.
- A sponge.
- An old toothbrush.
- A cloth.
- Water.
Then add your weapon of choice out of the following:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar.
- Laundry stain remover
How to Clean White Crocs Using Baking Soda
- Rinse the Crocs under warm water to loosen up the dirt.
- Fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Place the crocs into the bucket and leave to soak for 10-30 minutes.
- Remove the Crocs and scrub with an old toothbrush to get into all the holes.
- Apply some baking soda to a damp cloth and rub the crocs.
- Continue doing so until they appear whiter. Rinse out the cloth and rub them down again.
- Leave to air dry.
Check out the link below to stock up on some high-quality baking soda:
[amazon box=”B09F5CQT24″ template=”vertical”]
Head to the link below to get a gallon of distilled white vinegar:
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How to Clean Crocs using a Baking Soda and Vinegar Paste
Some stains are so deeply embedded that you need a more intensive cleaning method. However, the combination of baking soda and vinegar will leave any stain running for its life.
Follow these steps:
- Wash the Crocs with dish soap and a sponge with warm water.
- Mix two parts white vinegar to one part baking soda to create a paste.
- Smear the paste over the crocs, and leave for 15- 30 minutes.
- Scrub the paste away with a toothbrush.
- Run the crocs under some clean, warm water.
- Leave the crocs to air dry.
Top tip: some users find this leaves their shoe with a vinegary scent, but this should fade over time. In the meantime, spray the shoes with a little body spray or Febreze to mask the smell.
If you need to stock up on some Fabreze, check out the Amazon link below:
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How Long Will This Take to Clean?
Ultimately, it depends on how filthy and stained the crocs are. Surface muck can be brushed and washed away quickly. Whereas embedded dirt that has discolored the croc will take much longer. Note: if you are dealing with animal feces, use gloves and wash them outdoors, not in your kitchen sink.
Can Bleach Be Used to Clean White Crocs?
If all other methods fail, you can use bleach. However, this method should only be used as a backup because it can damage the crocs.
Follow these steps to clean your crocs with bleach:
- Wash the crocs in warm soapy water.
- Mix one-part bleach with four parts water in a bucket.
- Soak the crocs in the solution for 30 minutes.
- Remove the crocs and brush them with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the crocs with warm water to remove any residual bleach.
- Leave the crocs to air dry.
How to Clean White Crocs with Fur?
The fur lining keeps your feet warm in cool weather but can also hold onto dirt and stench. Sadly, the lining is not machine washable, so you must wash the components separately.
Here are some steps to follow to wash fuzzy Crocs in the washing machine:
- Remove the fuzzy lining from the Crocs. This should be very easy, as they are designed to do this.
- Ideally, you do not want to put the liner into the washing machine as it will encourage them to stretch, and the fuzz will wear away much quicker. Wash them in the sink with a bit of soap and warm water. Rinse, and hang to dry.
- Brush off any excess dirt from the Crocs, and place them in the washing machine. Set the temperature to 30 degrees Celsius or less.
- Once the cycle has finished, leave the Crocs somewhere to air dry.
- Put the liners back in the Crocs once all components are dry, and enjoy.
If the washing machine cycle hasn’t left your crocs shining white, try out one of the methods above with baking soda or vinegar.
Machine Washing White Crocs
Technically you can machine wash crocs, but it might not be very good for them. The Crocs material, the Croslite, does not like being subjected to high temperatures.
The heat in the washing machine may cause the material to deform. So, Crocs do not recommend washing your Crocs in the washing machine, as there is this potential for damage.
However, you can machine wash Crocs at lower temperatures. You must clean them below 30 degrees Celsius. Machine washing white crocs are less likely to leave your white crocs bright again, and using one of the alternative methods will yield better results.
To machine wash crocs, make sure first to remove all jibbitz and linings. Then, brush off excess dirt and place the crocs into a protective bag or pillowcase. Next, set the washing machine to a low temperature, add a little detergent and turn it on. Finally, remove the crocs and let them air dry.
Additional Tips and Ideas
Croslite is an odd material that needs some special treatment. So here are a few tips and tricks to care for your crocs:
- Avoid direct sunlight or heat, as this will warp the crocs. For example, don’t put them outside to dry in direct sunlight, don’t leave them in a hot car, and don’t put them in the washing machine on high heat.
- Spot cleaning by hand is your best first method, don’t jump straight into using the washing machine or bleach. This may cause damage to your shoes.
- You should follow a different method if your crocs are leather, suede, or mesh.
- Laundry stain remover can also be used to tackle tough stains. Apply it as you would to a clothing garment, following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Leave it to soak on the crocs before rinsing off. Check out the link below to grab some white reviving laundry stain remover.
- You can also use 70% alcohol wipes to clean white crocs. Wipe the crocs, and leave the alcohol to seep in for a few minutes.
[amazon box=”B00IA9QTAI” template=”vertical”]
How to Remove Smells From White Crocs
Baking soda comes in handy again here in lifting stubborn smells from crocs.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into a plastic bag
- Place the crocs into the bag, and tie the bag.
- Put the bag in the freezer and leave it overnight.
- Remove the bag, and shake the baking soda off the croc.
Conclusion
Cleaning white garments is always tricky because white is not a forgiving color. Fortunately, a good scrubbing and the right cleaning product will lift most stains when it comes to cleaning white Crocs. Doing your research and following the instructions outlined in this article will leave your crocs clean and white. Crocs are meant to be worn in muck, grass, and puddles. So get out there, use your crocs, and use one of the methods outlined in this article when you need to deep clean.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
